Slowness of recovery of Katrina dead criticized

yahoo.com ^ | September 13, 2005

[grundle]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050913/ts_nm/katrina_dead_dc_1;_ylt=A86.I0bIOidDI0EAAAEbLisB;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Slowness of recovery of Katrina dead criticized

September 13, 2005

BATON ROUGE (Reuters) - Louisiana's governor condemned the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday for moving too slowly to recover the dead from New Orleans and said she has signed a contract directly on behalf of the state with the recovery company originally hired by FEMA.

"I have taken action today to resolve a matter that involves life, death and dignity," Kathleen Blanco told reporters and said she had expressed her "absolute frustration" with the pace of the recovery to federal authorities but to no avail.

"I cannot stand by while this vital operation is not being handled appropriately," she said.

Authorities have confirmed 279 deaths in Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina hit two weeks ago, though fears have begun to abate that New Orleans alone could hold 10,000 dead or more beneath its flood waters.

Blanco said she has signed a contract with Kenyon International Emergency Services after the company threatened to pull out of the state because it had not yet signed a formal contract with FEMA.

Asked about the issue, FEMA spokesman David Passey said: "From what I understand, Kenyon had some questions about the contract."

He said from the beginning FEMA had expected Louisiana to take the lead in the collection of bodies and FEMA was satisfied that the state had signed a contract with the company.

"I don't know the exact nature of the contract concerns. We made our best effort to engage Kenyon in a contract," he said. The fact that the state had signed a contract with Kenyon would allow federal mortuary teams to "get on with what they do best," the identification of the dead.

Blanco said FEMA's failure to sign a contract with Kenyon had slowed the entire recovery process. She spoke ahead of a meeting with a group of the state's elected officials, including the secretary of state and attorney general.

"The failure to execute a contract for recovery of our citizens has slowed the recovery operations," she said. "We are at the epicenter of a natural disaster of global proportions."

The governor did not give details of the financial arrangements of the state's contract with Kenyon, and spokespeople for the company could not immediately comment.

Kenyon, a division of Service Corp. International, said on September 7 it had been hired by FEMA for recovery services.

FEMA has become the target of strong criticism of the Bush administration's handling of the hurricane, which struck the U.S. Gulf coast two weeks ago, killing hundreds and displacing 1 million people in the nation's worst natural disaster.

FEMA director Michael Brown, whose work was initially praised by President George W. Bush, resigned on Monday.

Bush himself took responsibility on Tuesday for failures in the federal response to Hurricane Katrina and acknowledged the storm exposed serious deficiencies at all levels of government four years after the September 11 attacks.

[debg]

Kenyon is a global responder and working the tsunami and the past four hurricanes in Florida to name a few. I guess that makes it the Halliburton for the dead in their eyes. about kenyon

[Just A Nobody]

I mentioned it in post #5, but it might have been too subtle.....

Whoops - sorry Hi Heels. You did and it was way too subtle for my blind anger of the moment. Forgive please. ;*)

[MissEdie]

I just wish this stupid bit*h would shut up and at least make an effort at doing her job.

[Hi Heels]

no no no.... you're fine. Carry on. I was enjoying it.

[Daralundy]

FYI - From Nola.com

State hires company to recover bodies

By Ed Anderson
Capital bureau

BATON ROUGE – An angry Gov. Kathleen Blanco Tuesday said the state has retained the services of the Kenyon Co. to help collect the dead victims from Hurricane Katrina because the federal emergency agency was not moving quickly enough to hire the firm.

“In death, as in life, our people deserve more respect and dignity,’’ Blanco said at a meeting of statewide officials which was opened briefly to reporters.

Aides to Blanco did not say how long the company will be retained by the state or how much it will be paid.

The company and the Federal Emergency Management Agency failed to come to terms on a contract to help collect and process the dead, so the state decided to hire the company, said Blanco spokeswoman Denise Bottcher. The company is one of a handful with expertise in body-retrieval and processing and worked the World Trade Center disaster in New York City in the aftermath of terrorist attacks four years ago, and also helped collect and process bodies in the Asian tsunami last year.
Blanco said she spoke to officials at FEMA and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff about the lack of progress in signing a contract and recovering bodies.

“I expressed my frustration regarding the lack of urgency and lack of respect involving recovery of our people who . . .were lost’’ in Hurricane Katrina, she said. “No one seems to be able to break through the bureau's to get this done . . . I am angry and outraged . . . We have pleaded for contract resolution.

“More than a week ago, Secretary Chertoff told me plans would be put in place for a system of ‘recovery with respect. . . .’

“The failure to execute a contract for the recovery of our citizens has hurt the speed of recovery efforts.’’

Blanco said while body-recovery is a FEMA responsibility, “I cannot stand by while this vital operation is not being handled appropriately.’’

Blanco said she spoke to Kenyon officials and they told her Monday they were on the verge of leaving as soon as they could “professionally pull out’’ because FEMA and the company could not agree on a contract.

Bottcher said the state started negotiating a contract with Kenyon Monday and it was expected to be signed Tuesday.

Bottcher said that any contract that the state signs will probably have to be approved by FEMA and the federal agency will reimburse the state its contract expenses.

[SueRae]

They needed 24 hours to think about it.

[bobo1]

The Bit@@ Blanco refuses to let the Guard kick in doors to search for the dead! They have to peer in the mudcaked windows.

The hypocrisy of the left wing-nuts knows no bounds.

Blessings, Bobo

[Yellow Rose of Texas]

Government Institutions generally settle lawsuits out of court as it is cheaper, and most are without merit, especially in Austin . That includes federal, state, local, even schools.

Apparently SCI has cleaned up it's act or they would not still be in business, and Bush may be from here, Midland, Texas, but he does not have that kind of power.

Now the Clinton's, their reach is long.

[Levante]

Very well put.

[Yellow Rose of Texas]

Also the ones found tied to a tree, they were from the nursing home.

[Cobra64]

"she said. "We are at the epicenter of a natural disaster of global proportions."

This b!tch is the epitome of a moron. I guess she never heard of the tsunammi, China EVACUATING 600,000 last week (something that Dolt-Blanco couldn't figure out). And her sidekick Noggin is AWOL setting up his new digs in Dallas.

Heckel and Jeckel are more competent.

[Cobra64]

Is there ANYTHING these people don't complain about??

No. It's an inbred condition amoung liberals.

[Former Dodger]

He said from the beginning FEMA had expected Louisiana to take the lead in the collection of bodies and FEMA was satisfied that the state had signed a contract with the company.

And that's as it should be.

"Blanko the Magician" tries to conjure up yet another red herring to shift the focus of blame.

From what I know about FEMA it's not really their job to take the lead, they are there to assist the State and Local government and the citizens by providing the money and organizing other disaster-relief organizations....

[been_lurking]

"We are at the epicenter of a natural disaster of global proportions."

If you believe the above hyperbole from the Gov., then it appears the contract recovery rests with the UN!

She is such a Clymer.

[MOgirl]

Hello,

I understand that Kenyon is capable of handling this, but this thread alludes to Kenyon as a "Bush Connection". However, Blanco signed a contract with them, when FEMA didn't. Blanco opens her big fat mouth and complains about the length of time it has taken to recover the dead. A day late, a city short.

Glad to be here, MOgirl

[Zacs Mom]

[Peace will be here soon]

"We are at the epicenter of a natural disaster of global proportions."

I believe that statement is correct on many levels. Not just a global one.

I am not in the Govnernors camp, nor FEMA`s camp for that matter. It just seems there are alot of people running around without any direction at all.

The one who should be incharge ( the Governor ) is not, and this is proving to be a major , major disaster. On top of the hurricane.....

But you know, the people of Louisiana put this woman in office, so maybe the blame is looking right back at them in the mirror.

[Revolting cat!]

Hurry on up, while they're still dead!

[mtbopfuyn]

And of course none of the deaths were her fault. Have we even seen her or Nagin out wading in the water if for nothing but a photo op?